For The Birds....I am! I am!

If you know me, you know I simply adore animals. Doesn't really matter the shape, size, or color. Certainly there are some exceptions, generally in the bug category. And really, I need to lay off the nature programs sometimes!

But without a doubt, I invested well when I bought myself a couple lovely bird feeders. For a long while at work, I coveted this beauty of a red egg shape. These perfectly simple and charming designs are made by a very enthusiastic ceramicists name Jim Schatz (he sent us fresh baked cookies on a hand thrown plate one holiday!). You can see all of this egg products, including bird houses, lamps, and night lights here. I think they make for an excellent house warming present to loved ones needing to feel settled in. We have done very well with his candy colored goods for years now. Such cheery objects with which to work when making pretty displays.

And then, I found this equally simply and lovely conical shaped feeder by Roost. Like most things they make, it is handmade, of the earth, and affordable. Talk about simple maintenance, this wins! I was trying out a new seed combo this past week, and was happy to see I gained chickadees...one of most favorite for their distinguished black cap. A very naughty fellow kept tossing out whiffs of seed to find the one he really wanted. Alas, I am in need of a re-filling...AGAIN!

But of course, who can resist the colorful finch! Well, aren't I just tickled red. Lucky me....

Color Blocking...in more ways than one!

"Color blocking" - an easy, fool-proof way of producing a pleasing palette. But these new products really take the "blocking" idea to new levels! Blocks of blocks, put together to produce a real big block, these seats are show stoppers. I would like one in the greens and one in the warms, please. You can see the full line here (including these strange-o pyramid pillows). These cubes remind me of color-theory studies with the color-aid packs of silkscreened papers...those were the BEST homework assignments ever! I'm so interested in learning more and more about how color works in different mediums and how textiles lines are designed; One of the best exercises I experienced was when I was put to the task of sorting and presenting over 2500 color swatches from which a collection of 12 had to be selected! Crazy! That was a fascinating process to be a part of and invaluable to the teaching of my eye.

I hope you are inspired by how palettes come together around you, too!

Egg day

Well, another year and another Easter is here! As sister Amy and brother Eric make me say, "Christ has risen!...Risen indeed!" :)

I have no plans today, just kinda of happened that way. But for certain, I am WISHING I had done some new egg work this year. I do like me some egg work! For a quick post and for fun, here are some of my past eggs...

And here are some other works of art on eggs. Just UNREAL, the carved eggs, but favorite for sure is the cross-stitch work. Very clever, indeed:

To everyone, a lovely and enjoyable Easter day to you, hopefully filled with sweetly dressed little ones, colorful eggs, exulted music, tasty food, and family and friends....lots of those!

Collect athletic tape....(!?)

That's right, collect athletic tape!
Because there have always been many reasons to do so...but, come to find out, there are at least 5 new reasons, as I learned on saturday: NOW IN COLOR!!!

This is a glorious day and I am jealous that I am not back in college in the height of my obsession with athletic tape. We ONLY had white. Boring. But true to the trend and giant wave of color in just about every creative, design and manufacturing industry, from duct tape to wallpaper to handbags to injured achilles, color is the thing, and even the most utilitarian objects are getting back in the lime light again for their simple beauty of design...Just like the good 'ol days. And with much excitement, and if for no other reason than to liven up the LaCrosse Stuff retail tent at my very rainy tournament on Saturday, I bought FIVE rolls. Oh... the possibilities....

I can just re-imagine all my taped-up injuries now....Red for "away games" on both my ankles, and hot pink for the hamstring in the spring: How very fashionable for the field.

Looks like my cleats could use some primping too...

Bookbinding, presents, packages, bumpers, lacrsosse sticks, and hamstrings...

Ok, 10 years and it is time...the cleat at the toes also used to be square. The most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever owned. Now they TOO come in colors! Keep your eye out for that post.